Google News Submitted, not heard back in 17 days - what would you do

[AustinTPL]

Hey warriors,

I have a site that gets 6-10 unique articles per day, we submitted the site back about 17 days now and have no been denied nor approved yet. I've read the average time to hear back is 14 days, so I guess we do not fall under that category.

My question is, when do I stop paying the writers to keep generating the content? We've spent about $500-$600 on content up until this point, and have not made any money yet with it.

At one point in time do you all feel it is a good idea to list the website on Flippa for auction so that people may bid on a potential google news site to minimize my potential loss?

[tpw]

I would keep moving forward, because your site should be able to make money, even if you are not approved as a Google News site.

While you are waiting, see if you can get approved as a Yahoo News site and Bing News site.

Keep developing your business as if Google doesn't exist, and you will win bigger in the long run.

[dcristo]

Seems like a pretty piss weak business model if you are solely reliant on acceptance into google news to make money.

[AustinTPL]

Originally Posted by dcristo

Seems like a pretty piss weak business model if you are solely reliant on acceptance into google news to make money.

We have tons of sites and businesses. This is purely one site whose sole purposes is google news (and the other news feeds as well). So please, don't act like this is our only revenue stream come out so aggressive.

Also there are techniques used to keep articles reused for new google news sites if denied, that is why there are no other monetization or search engine optimization methods going on other than through the feed submissions

[sbucciarel]

I've heard some people get approved after waiting for a month or longer. It can be a long wait, so I wouldn't give up yet.

[AustinTPL]

I see, so do you think the 30 day mark is a safe indicator of how long to wait before listing it on flippa?

[tpw]

Originally Posted by miscbrah

I see, so do you think the 30 day mark is a safe indicator of how long to wait before listing it on flippa?

The Google News team has caught onto this. Once you list the site in Flippa, they will rescind the Google News Site status.

[NateSimms]

My site was just accepted about a week ago or so.

... it was a two-month long wait for the approval process.

Well worth the wait though.

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by miscbrah

I see, so do you think the 30 day mark is a safe indicator of how long to wait before listing it on flippa?

I don't think anyone should create a GNews site for a fast flip. You can of course sell them but if you list it on Flippa, it's a sure Google News ban and then you're stuck with a "news" site that will never be in GNews again.

Keep it and it's value will increase. Should you decide to flip, list it on Flippa with the new privacy option (costs around $100) but you don't divulge the url until the prospective bidder requests and agrees to a confidentiality agreement.

I saw one sold on Flippa that way for $11,000. But really, I don't understand the desire to immediately flip it. They are valuable sites.

[NateSimms]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

I don't think anyone should create a GNews site for a fast flip. You can of course sell them but if you list it on Flippa, it's a sure Google News ban and then you're stuck with a "news" site that will never be in GNews again.

Keep it and it's value will increase. Should you decide to flip, list it on Flippa with the new privacy option (costs around $100) but you don't divulge the url until the prospective bidder requests and agrees to a confidentiality agreement.

I saw one sold on Flippa that way for $11,000. But really, I don't understand the desire to immediately flip it. They are valuable sites.

See the part emphasized by me.

... only after a week of being accepted into Google news, I'm seeing incredible spikes in traffic (went from about 500/day to over 3,000/day). And that, in turn, has ramped up my revenue not only in AdSense (ie. my server is paid in full for the entire year already) but my advertising rates have gone sky-high and I have not yet heard a complaint from those who purchase banner space from me. They are loving the increased CTR because of the traffic spike.

Trust me, you can make a lot more money running it yourself than flipping it for quick profit.

[AustinTPL]

Originally Posted by tpw

The Google News team has caught onto this. Once you list the site in Flippa, they will rescind the Google News Site status.

That's if you list them publicly on flippa. I've dealt with them before on flippa with zero problems when set to privacy.

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

I don't think anyone should create a GNews site for a fast flip. You can of course sell them but if you list it on Flippa, it's a sure Google News ban and then you're stuck with a "news" site that will never be in GNews again.

Keep it and it's value will increase. Should you decide to flip, list it on Flippa with the new privacy option (costs around $100) but you don't divulge the url until the prospective bidder requests and agrees to a confidentiality agreement.

I saw one sold on Flippa that way for $11,000. But really, I don't understand the desire to immediately flip it. They are valuable sites.

It's not meant for a fast flip, but depending upon how long it takes that may be the end result. Never had to wait this long before, so it's a bit of a bummer.

Originally Posted by NateSimms

See the part emphasized by me.

... only after a week of being accepted into Google news, I'm seeing incredible spikes in traffic (went from about 500/day to over 3,000/day). And that, in turn, has ramped up my revenue not only in AdSense (ie. my server is paid in full for the entire year already) but my advertising rates have gone sky-high and I have not yet heard a complaint from those who purchase banner space from me. They are loving the increased CTR because of the traffic spike.

Trust me, you can make a lot more money running it yourself than flipping it for quick profit.

Yes, I definitely know what you're talking about. Maybe I will just tone back the amount of daily articles. How many were you doing prior to submission? We're currently doing around 10 a day this time around, but have done as low as 2-4 with previous sites.

[AustinTPL]

Just wanted to update that we were included into google news today

Thankfully you warriors convinced me to hold onto it, now here is a new question. We're putting together our google news sitemap with the google news sitemap plugin.

Is it recommended to create seperate sitemaps for the press releases than the rest of the news categories or should we just put it all under one sitemap?

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by miscbrah

Just wanted to update that we were included into google news today

Thankfully you warriors convinced me to hold onto it, now here is a new question. We're putting together our google news sitemap with the google news sitemap plugin.

Is it recommended to create seperate sitemaps for the press releases than the rest of the news categories or should we just put it all under one sitemap?

Congrats. Did you include a Press Release section when you submitted to Google for approval? If not, I'd rethink adding them. I've seen numerous people get delisted from Google News when they started selling Press Releases in the GNews sites. If you do include them, make absolutely certain that there are no links selling stuff in them and that they are completely unique press releases.

They would need to be a separate sitemap from the news. You can download this one: Google News Sitemap to use for Press Releases (Never mind that it is another language on the plugin page - download it and use it). Make sure with this one, you exclude all the other categories and with the main one, you exclude the Press Release category.

[AustinTPL]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

Congrats. Did you include a Press Release section when you submitted to Google for approval? If not, I'd rethink adding them. I've seen numerous people get delisted from Google News when they started selling Press Releases in the GNews sites. If you do include them, make absolutely certain that there are no links selling stuff in them and that they are completely unique press releases.

They would need to be a separate sitemap from the news. You can download this one: Google News Sitemap to use for Press Releases (Never mind that it is another language on the plugin page - download it and use it). Make sure with this one, you exclude all the other categories and with the main one, you exclude the Press Release category.

Sounds like it is better just to ignore the press releases all together then. From what I've read that is what gets some of these sites in trouble, is when they start doing sketchy tactics like selling press releases.

About how long did it take your articles to start being actually indexed into the news?

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by miscbrah

Sounds like it is better just to ignore the press releases all together then. From what I've read that is what gets some of these sites in trouble, is when they start doing sketchy tactics like selling press releases.

About how long did it take your articles to start being actually indexed into the news?

Go into webmaster tools and see if there is a green checkmark on your submitted Google News Sitemap. If not, you might drop them a note that you have installed the News Sitemap.

Once there is a green check on it, Google will index articles immediately. Bear in mind that when you first install it, it has no articles in it. So write some articles and they will be indexed fast. Mine are normally indexed within 15 minutes of posting them, sometimes faster.

[AustinTPL]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

Go into webmaster tools and see if there is a green checkmark on your submitted Google News Sitemap. If not, you might drop them a note that you have installed the News Sitemap.

Once there is a green check on it, Google will index articles immediately. Bear in mind that when you first install it, it has no articles in it. So write some articles and they will be indexed fast. Mine are normally indexed within 15 minutes of posting them, sometimes faster.

awesome, thanks for the tips

[Targeted Traffic]

Some get approved in hours, some takes weeks and weeks, so now while you wait, you can review this:

Google has published guidelines in regards to what sites they will accept which are:

1. Have news content reporting on recent events – please note that we don’t include informational and how-to articles, classified ads, job postings, fictitious content, event announcements, advice columns or adult content;

2. Have content that is original to the site;

3. Have articles that are written and maintained by a clear organization, one that has multiple writers and editors with accessible contact information;

4. Don’t solely promote their own activities or products;

5. Don’t violate Google’s quality guidelines available at

[Toby.T]

does matter on the location of the google news site? I am from Australia and looking at creating a Google News Site, just wondered if this would impact the level of traffic that I could see.

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by Toby.T

does matter on the location of the google news site? I am from Australia and looking at creating a Google News Site, just wondered if this would impact the level of traffic that I could see.

Not at all. I saw an Australian GNews site sell on Flippa for $11,000

[Toby.T]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

Not at all. I saw an Australian GNews site sell on Flippa for $11,000

I see, I noticed the site on your Ebook Sales page that sold for 11k, appears to be an entertainment site,

Would you say a general news site... wouldn't generate well if it were sitting in Australia, eg.. theaustraliangazette.com.. would it see international traffic from Google News? Articles based on local and international news?

[suxes2005]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

Not at all. I saw an Australian GNews site sell on Flippa for $11,000

I like the way you respond to questions here.

I am yet to submit my google news site for approval, i only
have 2 people writing and me making 3. How many posts per day
will you advise? What are the most essential things to bare in mind
while registering for google news site approval?

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by Toby.T

I see, I noticed the site on your Ebook Sales page that sold for 11k, appears to be an entertainment site,

Would you say a general news site... wouldn't generate well if it were sitting in Australia, eg.. theaustraliangazette.com.. would it see international traffic from Google News? Articles based on local and international news?

I don't really have any way of knowing that. The Australian news site that sold was general news and it got a lot of traffic and it made good adsense revenue as well. Many articles with an Australian flavor would still be seen and be interesting to news readers. Not all of them, probably, but that would be up to you to provide articles that would have a general International appeal.

Originally Posted by suxes2005

I like the way you respond to questions here.

I am yet to submit my google news site for approval, i only
have 2 people writing and me making 3. How many posts per day
will you advise? What are the most essential things to bare in mind
while registering for google news site approval?

The things you need to consider are too numerous to put in a post, but I would be writing a minimum of 5 articles per day.

[suxes2005]

Thanks for that. What about backlinks and visitors?
Do i need to consider all these?

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by suxes2005

Thanks for that. What about backlinks and visitors?
Do i need to consider all these?

You don't need backlinks. The goal of any site is usually to get to the first page of Google and news sites already do that. If you start blasting backlinks to a news site, Google will most likely delist you, saying that you aren't following the Webmaster Guidelines.

News sites get a ton of traffic and people naturally backlink to them.

[suxes2005]

Thanks. My news site is actualy 143+ days old. Posted regularly
May and June and July it was not consistent. This August, its been
consisten posting with average of 4 posts per day. I work with other 2 people
is it right to submit such site at the end of the month?

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by suxes2005

Thanks. My news site is actualy 143+ days old. Posted regularly
May and June and July it was not consistent. This August, its been
consisten posting with average of 4 posts per day. I work with other 2 people
is it right to submit such site at the end of the month?

I recommend 5 posts per day and 5 authors/writers listed. There are other news guidelines and webmaster guidelines that you need to comply with.

Recommend you do some reading before submitting

google news guidelines - Google Search

[AustinTPL]

Our newest site that was accepted into Gnews a few days ago did not have even 100 articles at the time of inclusion. We're now nearing on 200 articles and backlinks as well as SE traffic are growing at a rapid pace.

I think the more important thing here is to make sure you're consistently at the 2-4 articles per day mark while google is reviewing your website.

Suzanne, I'd be interested to know if you are still using high quality content, or $1 per 100 content on your site now that you are included. We are still getting very high quality content, but are considering lowering our costs a bit now that we're in.

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by miscbrah

Our newest site that was accepted into Gnews a few days ago did not have even 100 articles at the time of inclusion. We're now nearing on 200 articles and backlinks as well as SE traffic are growing at a rapid pace.

I think the more important thing here is to make sure you're consistently at the 2-4 articles per day mark while google is reviewing your website.

Suzanne, I'd be interested to know if you are still using high quality content, or $1 per 100 content on your site now that you are included. We are still getting very high quality content, but are considering lowering our costs a bit now that we're in.

Still using high quality content. Google news does review sites after they've been submitted, particularly is someone complains.

[AustinTPL]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

Still using high quality content. Google news does review sites after they've been submitted, particularly is someone complains.

Would appreciate any writers you can link me to. I've been having trouble finding americans to deliver consistent content daily without using textbroker